Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-05-12
POLITICAL.
A Novel Election Contest from West
Virginia Promised in the United
States Senate.
The Prohibition Movement Spreading
Among the Negroes ia Louisiana.
A Convention Called,
Ex-senator Dorsey Gives Roosevelt 8
Turning Over for His Persistent
Opposition to Blaine.
an Interesting Case.

Special to the Gazette.
WAsHN GTON, May 1.-THE action OF
the West Virginia Legislature in eiecting
United States Senator at special ses-
sion called for entirely other purposes
than such election, when the Governor Of
the state bad, in the exercise of his pre-
negatives, already appointed a gentleman
to the place, Is going to arouse contest
of peculiar and perhaps unparalleled
nature in the Senate of the United States
when it reassembles in December. There
is no telling how far reaching in its eff
fects upon the future political complexion
of the state this action may prove to be.
Senator D. B. Lucas, the Governors ap-
pointee, declares that he will contest to
the last the election of Senator Charles
James Faulkner, Jr., the choice of the
Legislature. Senator Lucas will have
the advantage Of having the certificate of
Governor Wilson'S appointment at his
back; while Senator Faulkner has the
moral force of an election and the more
solid support Of ex-senator Camden's
millions behind him. The decision of the
contest by Republican Senate will be
watched with interest by the country.
Senator Sherman says that from
the fact that both candidates are
Democrats there will be no poll
tics entering into the case. But it is
for just that reason that politics will be
the more likely to rule the decision.
The West Virginia Legislature does not
meet but every two years, and
will not reassemble unless epeCial-
| ly convened until 1889, after
the Presidential elections are all over
and disposed of. If the Senatorial seat
| is given in the present contest to Mr..
Lucas, ne can only retain it for two
years; the appointment only holding
good until the next session of the Leg
| islature. II, however, it is decided that
Mr.. Faulkner was legally elected and the
seat is given to him, he will hold it for
| the regular term of six years. The Re
| publiCans are exceedingly anxious to cap
TUE West Virginia at the next
ISszettion, and are preparing to
make strenuous efforts in shat di-
rectfon and although the Democrats nope
to make better showing then than they
did the last time, they admit that the Re-
publiCans will push them hard. II by
any chance the Republicans were to win
and obtain control Of the Legislature
they would, in the event of their col
leagues in the United States senate seat
ing the short term man, Mr.. Lucas, be in
position to elect two United States
Senators of their own political complex
ion, and having once gained control, it
would not be an easy matter to wrest
their advantage from them. OF course it
is to be inferred thst the Senate
in passing on the contest next December
will decide it on its merits, but it is also
very unlike Republican politician to
allow even a chance so slim as the one
under consideration to pass without avail
ing himself of it. Incidentally, therefore,
the determination of Mr.. Lucas to fight
for his seat may produce disastrous re
suits for the Democracy of West Vir-
gInia.